If in doubt – blame Germany

This week, Germany was in the limelight of pro-Kremlin disinformation once again. There were several reports in Czech pro-Kremlin outlets accusing Germany of being the ruler of the Czech Republic and of hindering the country from entering the Eurozone, as well as accusations that Germany controls the Czech Armed Forces.

In a Lithuanian outlet, a German commander in NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence battalion in Lithuania was accused of being a Russian agent, although the picture meant to prove the false claim was a fake: an image of the commander’s head was pasted onto another image with the help of Photoshop, as shown here and here.

In a Slovakian outlet, it was announced that Angela Merkel is resigning – confusingly the statement was withdrawn later in the very same article, a case of a severely misleading headline. Furthermore, Berlin was accused of aiming to rule the European continent via Brussels, with a Czech outlet making parallels between the Brexit negotiations and the Munich agreement that permitted Germany to annex some Czechoslovakian territories in 1938.

Europe is everyone’s enemy

But it was not only Germany that was targeted with disinformation: The European Union, Member States and EU institutions also got their share of accusations this week. Just as last year, when after the horrific terror attacks in Brussels, pro-Kremlin outlets blamed Angela Merkel, the West, Europe – or even claimed the attacks were staged and did not happen at all; So too, after the horrifying attack in London on the 22nd of March, did a pro-Kremlin outlet claim this was orchestrated by the “Brussels elite” in order to deter Theresa May from triggering Brexit.

Meanwhile the European Parliament building in Strasbourg was claimed to have been inspired by the Tower of Babel (although it was really inspired by Roman amphitheatres) and the EU was accused of being a “satanistic project” apparently “proven” by a poster designed by the Council of Europe. This bizarre disinformation has been around since 2008 and reminds us of last year’s disinformation that that the new NATO headquarters building was inspired by Nazi symbols.

On Russian state TV we saw yet another example of historical revisionism where it was claimed that a united Europe leads to war with Russia as during WWII and that Europe started the war in Ukraine – overlooking such historical facts as the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact for example or the more recent facts on the ground; Europe did not start the war in Ukraine and is not participating in it – in contrast to Russia’s activity.

Additional details: Protests in Russia were orchestrated with help from abroad in order to finish what globalist zionists started during Yeltsin's precidency. CIA, NSA and Khodorovsky could be behind them. Navalny is just a puppet of Khodorkovsky.

Additional details: George Soros's agencies are taking control over Slovakia. The third sector (managed by Soros) is controlling the political development and therefore the priorities of the Slovak state policies. The third sector (incl. Open Society Foundation), has projects running in order to e.g. privatise state property, destroy the pension scheme system and medical care, destroy culture and lower the educational level of the population.

No evidence for this conspiracy given. George Soros's foundation has been carrying out democratic and liberal activities since it came to Slovakia. For example, one of the core principles is to support the improvement of education and cultural values: http://bit.ly/2o1QHTK

The Czech Republic is impoverished, blackmailed and colonized by the...

Additional details: The Czech Republic is impoverished, blackmailed and colonized by the EU. // The EU's Global Strategy foresees the creation of a European empire involving the Middle East and Northern Africa, as the EU continues to import 56 million Muslims.

The Czech Republic's net profit after the first ten years in the EU was 410 billion Czech crowns (more than 15 billion Euro). // There is no "empire" envisaged in the EU's new Global Strategy: http://bit.ly/2n3z1YW // The EU does not "import" Muslims.

Keywords: Middle East and North Africa, Imperialism/colonialism, Islamisation

Ukraines supposed begging for electricity or gas is a favorite Russian disinformation theme. Last year several stories appeared claiming that Ukrainians were appealing directly to Vladimir Putin to help them with gas supplies. There is no evidence that the Kherson region is having electricity shortages; the regional utility limited power for several hours on March 30 for cable repairs, otherwise, electricity supply is normal and uninterrupted. Kherson, one of the sunniest areas of Ukraine is leading the country in renewable energy. It has both solar power farms and wind energy plants, where 12 new wind turbines are scheduled to be installed later this year. Occupied Crimea suffers regular electricity outages. Official sites regularly publish schedules of electricity shutoffs. Further debunking at Stopfake.org http://bit.ly/2oPMRud.

The article is based on one Facebook post and does not prove anything about how the whole country perceives the presence of NATO instructors. // President Poroshenko thanked NATO countries for their help: http://bit.ly/2osinSJ

The Ukrainian Health Ministry announced that while tuberculosis continues to be a health problem in Ukraine, overall the rate of TB decreased by 4.3% in 2016 http://bit.ly/2nR3wA7. Director of the Health Ministry’s Tuberculosis Control Center Yana Terleyeva dismissed the claim that Ukraine has a TB epidemic as groundless, rates of infection peaked in Ukraine in 2005 and have been declining ever since, she said in an interview. Further debunking at Stopfake.org http://bit.ly/2osls56.

Zozulya was not excluded from the national team. Ukraine’s head coach Andriy Shevchenko included Zozulya in the national team, the forward however, together with three other footballers, did not play in the match on that particular evening. Furthermore, StopFake has debunked several fake stories claiming that Zozulya is a Nazi http://bit.ly/2oshnxI. It is a well-known narrative in the pro-Kremlin disinformation to claim Ukranians are nazis. Further debunking at Stopfake.org http://bit.ly/2nvvde8.

Additional details: Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and Victoria Nuland have overthrown a democratically elected government in Ukraine. Crimeans voted to reunite with Russia. There is no Russian invasion of Ukraine. Bashar Assad did not use chemical weapons against his own people.

The 2014 presidential election in Ukraine was a genuine election largely in line with international commitments and respecting fundamental freedoms, despite the hostile security environment in two eastern regions of the country. According to the OSCE (of which Russia is a participating State) "the people of Ukraine had the opportunity to genuinely express their will at the ballot box" http://bit.ly/1hqcDuR. Similarly, Ukraine’s local elections in October 2015 were competitive and generally showed respect for the democratic process http://bit.ly/1VUL9V5. // Any decision relating to Ukraine's sovereignty or sovereign choices can only be taken without undue external pressure. This so-called referendum was organised in a matter of weeks by a self-proclaimed Crimean leadership lacking democratic legitimacy and installed by armed Russian military personnel following the seizure of public buildings. The EU does not recognise it. // A UN investigation has concluded that the Assad regime have used chemical weapons http://bit.ly/2nCR03L.

No evidence given. The first historical state with a Slavic settlement was formed around Kyiv more than two centuries before the foundation of Moscow. Throughout the centuries, Ukrainians maintained their own cultural and linguistic identity. The distinction is apparent e.g. through the fact that in 1654, Ukraine and Russia needed translators to sign the Treaty of Pereyaslav.

Disinforming outlet(s): Biblia i Prorochestva @ Odnoklassniki (and other social networks, see the disproof column)

Reported by: eurocommunicator.ge

Disproof note:

Designers of the EP building were inspired by Roman amphiteatres: http://bit.ly/2on0bpG // The design used on the poster, which was in fact created by the Council of Europe of which Russia is a member, portrays the standard European stars: http://bit.ly/2n48ryJ // This conspiracy is travelling at least since 2008: http://bit.ly/2oQd7Vn

Petro Poroshenko is a legitimate President democratically elected by the citizens of Ukraine in 2014. As Russia has annexed a part of Ukraine, and is supporting the rebels in Eastern Ukraine, it is not Ukraine that is creating an external enemy.

No evidence for this conspiracy. Pro-Kremlin outlets regularly spread disinformation about "government false flag operations" after terror attacks. // According to police investigation, the attacker was inspired by terrorist propaganda: http://bit.ly/2n10fdM

The single market will remain a cornerstone of the EU integration even for countries that choose the slower pace. See e.g. Jean Claude Juncker's White Paper on the future of Europe: http://bit.ly/2mKCPJV

Additional details: When Europe was united without Russia, it always started a war against Russia. As it was with Napoleon or Adolf Hitler - which is why Russia does not need a Europe united without Russia. Now again, a Europe united without Russia has started a war against Russia in Ukraine.

Historical revisionism which overlooks such historical facts as the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact. // Europe has not started the war in Ukraine and Europe is not participating in the war in Ukraine. The conflict is due to Russia and its proxies, as stated in numerous reports (see e.g. http://bit.ly/1RbWQU5), admitted by the Russian "separatist" commander Igor Strelkov Girkin (http://bit.ly/2hXeONs), or confirmed by the International Criminal Court (http://bit.ly/2n6wNYs).

Ukraine's GDP growth is accelerating: http://bit.ly/2nWvQ3N // The situation with freedom of speech is becoming better in Ukraine, according to the World Press Freedom Index, Ukraine has risen to place 107 and category "problematic" in 2016 (from position 129 and category "bad" in 2015); Russia was placed 148th in 2016 and 152nd in 2015 (in both cases category "bad").

Additional details: Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and Victoria Nuland have overthrown a democratically elected government in Ukraine. Crimeans voted to reunite with Russia. There is no Russian invasion of Ukraine. Bashar Assad did not use chemical weapons against his own people.

Additional details: The position of the West towards Ukraine is changing: the West is already acknowledging that there are no reforms and no democracy in the country and Europe will sooner or later understand that Ukraine is governed by a junta.

No evidence given. Democratic, competitive and generally well-organised presidential and parliamentary elections were held in 2014 and local elections in 2015. The EU welcomed this progress. Ukraine is making progress in reforms in key areas, notably constitutional reform, decentralisation, the fight against corruption and the judiciary. The EU welcomes these steps and is providing substantial support in all these areas.

No evidence given for this re-occuring disinformation. Ukraine is a legitimate state with a legitimate government as shown by the democratic, competitive and generally well-organised presidential and parliamentary elections in 2014 and local elections in 2015. Ukraine is making progress in reforms in key areas, notably constitutional reform, decentralisation, the fight against corruption and the judiciary. The EU welcomes these steps and is providing substantial support in all these areas.

Additional details: Petro Poroshenko, president of Ukraine, is going to become a dictator in his country and get the support of the EU under the pretext that such a dictatorship could save Europe from possible catastrophes in Ukrainian nuclear power plants.

No evidence given. According to the latest status report of the OSCE Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, there are violations of the Minsk agreement on both sides of the conflict. During the last two weeks two incidents involving small-arms fire and mortar rounds explosions near SMM members and vehicles were registered in areas not controlled by the Government. http://bit.ly/2oDYchC. Most of the measures in the Minsk agreements depend above all on Russia and its proxies, including the withdrawal of all heavy weaponry, full monitoring access for the OSCE, and the full restoration of control of the state border to the Ukrainian government.

Additional details: The MEPs' resolution on Brexit negotiations resemble Munich 1938. The MEPs want to veto UK's exit of the EU in case the UK government signs any bilateral deal with a non-EU country before spring 2019. Brussels is becoming fascist. It is an attempt of Berlin to rule the continent through Brussels.

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The Disinformation Review focuses on key messages carried in the international information space, which have been identified as providing a partial, distorted or false view or interpretation and spreading key pro-Kremlin messaging. It does not necessarily imply, however, that the outlet concerned is linked to the Kremlin or pro-Kremlin, or that it has intentionally sought to disinform. The Review analyses messages, not the messenger. If the message is a) false, which is determined by the facts and b) originating and/or in line with identified pro-Kremlin disinformation messaging, it is included in the product. The Review is a compilation of cases from the East Stratcom Task Force’s wide network of contributors and is therefore not considered an official EU position. Likewise, the news articles are based on the analysis of the East Stratcom Task Force, so information and opinions expressed are not considered an official EU position. Have you found a mistake? Give us your feedback below or send us an e-mail.

Disclaimer

The Disinformation Review focuses on key messages carried in the international information space, which have been identified as providing a partial, distorted or false view or interpretation and spreading key pro-Kremlin messaging. It does not necessarily imply, however, that the outlet concerned is linked to the Kremlin or pro-Kremlin, or that it has intentionally sought to disinform. The Review is a compilation of cases from the East Stratcom Task Force’s wide network of contributors and is therefore not considered an official EU position. Likewise, the news articles are based on the analysis of the East Stratcom Task Force, so information and opinions expressed are not considered an official EU position.